They're creative, they're quirky, and they're a unique part of the Montreal landscape, but the commercial signs that used to cover the city are becoming an endangered species.

Often forgotten or rendered obsolete thanks to commercial development and advertising, some classic signs have been given a new life thanks to the Montreal Signs Project.

Concordia communications professor Matt Soar worked with sign makers to repair the interesting and often unique signs, before putting them on display in an exhibition at the university's Loyola campus in Notre Dame de Grace.

"It's literally two people who have scavenged some space on campus and going out and doing what we can to save some signs," said Soar.

Signs included the beloved insignia from Montreal landmarks, including the Warshaw grocery store, the former Paramount Cinema, Mr. Hot Dog, the Monkland Tavern and Ben's Restaurant.

The signs drum up nostalgia from an era gone by, said Soar.

"There are a lot of signs that are important culturally in certain neighborhoods. The signs work as a window into the past a lightning rod for those kinds of memories," he said.

For more information and to view images, click here.